Nutrition Associate

Maricopa; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Hybrid work schedule

Healthcare benefits

Child care benefits

Paid vacation/sick/leave

Arizona State Retirement System

Job summary

Maricopa County Department of Public Health seeks a Nutrition Associate to provide nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and WIC eligibility assessments to participants in the WIC program. The role involves documentation of care plans, administrative duties, and strong customer service in a hybrid workplace.

Qualified candidates will have a Nutrition degree by hire, and a DTR credential or eligibility; bilingual English/Spanish is valued.

Qualifications

• WIC experience preferred.
• Knowledge of nutrition education and counseling.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is valued.

Responsibilities

• Provides participant-centered nutrition and breastfeeding assessments, counseling and support.
• Develops, documents, monitors, and evaluates individualized nutrition care plans using motivational interviewing.
• Assesses eligibility and certifies WIC participants based on income, residency, identity and nutrition risk.
• Performs administrative duties: scheduling, emails and customer service.
• Promotes breastfeeding and distributes breast pumps when appropriate.
• Participates in ongoing program training and stays updated on WIC policies.

Skills

Bilingual EN/ES

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition

Associate degree in Nutrition

DTR credential or eligible

Job description

Are you passionate about nutrition? As a Nutrition Associate, you will provide services to the participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, such as nutrition counseling and education, verification of eligibility, nutrition assessment, and education. The Maricopa WIC Program provides participant-centered, evidence-based nutrition and breastfeeding education, counseling, and support to over 40,000 participants per month. Our staff are creative, innovative, and passionate about maternal and child nutrition, and seek to make a difference in their community. This is your opportunity to be part of a public health program designed to influence a lifetime of positive nutrition and health behaviors. This position also offers an amazing pathway to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)! After just six months of employment, our Nutrition Associates with a DPD-eligible bachelor's degree, can apply for our PAID WIC Track Dietetic Internship. For more information, visit WIC Track | Maricopa County, AZ. **About Us**Come work for Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the 3rd largest health jurisdiction in the U.S.! MCDPH’s mission is to increase the quality of life for our residents by collaborating with the community to develop and implement strategies, programs, and services addressing the emerging and changing needs of public health. We aim to serve Maricopa County residents with a focus on impact and a data-driven approach to our work. We value our staff's unique skills and differences, as well as the varied experiences and disciplines we represent. Together, we are working towards our vision of creating a healthy, thriving Maricopa County for all. **Proud to Offer*** Work with a greater purpose* Tuition reimbursement* Exceptional work-life balance, with hybrid work schedule options* Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County* Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents* Child care benefits, including access to the Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families* Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave* Extensive wellness program, including an incentive* Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1* Want to learn more about the County’s Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ **We Require*** Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition by the time of hire**OR*** Associate degree in Nutrition by the time of hire. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Technician Registered (DTR) credential or DTR eligible and ability to pass the credentialing exam within twelve months of hire with the first attempt at the credentialing exam occurring within three months of hire **We Also Value*** Experience with the WIC supplemental nutrition program* Completed college coursework in Human Nutrition, Community Nutrition, Lifecycle Nutrition, and Nutrition Counseling and/or Nutrition Assessment* Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration* Experience completing nutrition assessments and providing health/nutrition education* Bilingual skills in English and Spanish **Job Contributions*** Provides participant-centered nutrition and breastfeeding assessments, and low and medium-risk counseling, education, and support* Develops, documents, monitors, and evaluates individualized nutrition care plans using motivational interviewing and evidence-based nutrition standards* Assesses eligibility and certifies participants for the WIC program, including determination of WIC eligibility based on income, residency, identity, and nutrition risk, and performs and interprets accurate hemoglobin screening and anthropometric measurements* Assigns and issues appropriate food benefits, documents, and ensures accuracy of participant files, and refers participants to other local and state community resources as needed* Performs administrative duties such as answering phones, monitoring clinic emails and text messages, scheduling appointments, performing participant check-in, and providing excellent customer service* Promotes breastfeeding, issues breast pumps to participants, and sanitizes breast pumps when they are returned* Participates in ongoing program continuing education and training activities based on County, State, and Federal regulations* Maintains knowledge of current WIC policies, procedures, and program requirements to ensure accurate and compliant service delivery **Working Conditions*** Work is performed in an office environment with a flexible work schedule that may include evenings; position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions* Must have the ability to travel to various clinic locations and have reliable transportation by the time of hire* Ability to exert 20-25 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10lbs. constantly* Must obtain an ID.me account by the time of hire in order to verify client eligibility through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Portal* Must be able to participate in emergency response training as scheduled and be available to respond as directed in the event of a public health emergency* Within one month of hire, all employees are required to provide evidence of immunity or receive immunizations for vaccine-preventable illnesses for any position within the Maricopa County Department of Public Health; required immunizations include MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Tdap (whooping cough and diphtheria), Varicella (chickenpox), and annual Influenza; some positions require a Hepatitis B vaccine and/or a Tuberculosis test **Selection Procedure*** Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications* Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile* Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitiveMaricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.